Series EE bonds are guaranteed to reach their face value after 20 years. Meanwhile, Series I bonds don't come with guarantees and mature after 30 years. Both bonds can also be cashed out at a cost after one year or penalty-free after five years. U.S. Department of Treasury.
The price for a bond or a note may be the face value (also called par value) or may be more or less than the face value. The price depends on the yield to maturity and the interest rate. The "yield to maturity" is the annual rate of return on the security. In both examples, the yield is higher than the interest rate.
There is no penalty for holding onto a Series EE savings bond past the 30-year maturity period. Once a Series EE bond reaches its final maturity, it stops earning interest, but there are no penalties associated with holding onto it beyond that point.
Savings bonds pay interest only when they're redeemed by the owner, and they earn interest for as long as 30 years. Electronic bonds can be cashed on the TreasuryDirect website, while paper bonds can be redeemed at most bank or credit union branches.
Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen.
EE bonds you buy now have a fixed interest rate that you know when you buy the bond. That rate remains the same for at least the first 20 years. It may change after that for the last 10 of its 30 years. We guarantee that the value of your new EE bond at 20 years will be double what you paid for it.
Savings bonds earn interest until they reach "maturity," which is generally 20-30 years, depending on the type purchased. If a bond is held past its maturity, the federal government remains responsible for the debt.
You can get your cash for an EE or I savings bond any time after you have owned it for 1 year. However, the longer you hold the bond, the more it earns for you (for up to 30 years for an EE or I bond). Also, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest.
5 years: While you technically can cash it in at that 12-month marker, it's better to avoid doing so – and to keep that bond intact for at least 4 more years. Why? Because you'll have to forfeit 3 months of interest if you cash it in within the first 5 years.
The interest you earn on EE savings bonds is subject to federal income, gift, estate, and excise taxes but is exempt from state and local income taxes. The taxation depends on who owns the bond, even if the ownership is split amongst individuals.
TAKEAWAYS: Not losing money by holding a bond until maturity is an illusion. The economic impact of market rate changes still impacts investors holding bonds until maturity. A bond index fund provides an investor with greater diversification and less risk.
The formula for the Rule of 72
The interest rate shouldn't be expressed as a decimal out of 1, such as 0.07 for 7 percent. It should just be the number 7. So, for example, 72/7 is 10.3, or 10.3 years. The Rule of 72 is focused on compounding interest that compounds annually.
All Series EE bonds reach final maturity 30 years from issue. Series EE savings bonds purchased from May 1995 through April 1997 increase in value every six months.
Can you cash in a savings bond at any bank? Savings bonds can generally be redeemed with the bank where you have a checking account. For example, at Bank of America, customers who have had a checking or savings account open for at least six months can easily cash in their savings bonds.
Fixed or Variable Interest
For example, if you own a $50 bond, you paid $25 for it. The bond isn't worth its face value until it matures.
I bonds offer an inflation-protected return, ensuring your savings keep pace with rising costs. EE bonds, on the other hand, provide a fixed-interest rate for the life of the bond, offering a predictable return. Benefits of both I bonds and EE bonds: Tax advantages.
For Series EE, Series HH, or Series I bonds, proof of death of a beneficiary is not necessary. We don't return death certificates or other legal evidence. TO CASH BONDS: Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds can be cashed at most financial institutions.
At 20 years: Series EE bonds are guaranteed to double in value. 3. At 30 years: The bonds stop earning interest and should be cashed in to avoid missing out on returns from other investment opportunities.
If your savings bond from a Series other than EE, I, or HH has finished its interest-earning life, you could cash it and use the money for something else – a project, a financial need, or a new investment like an interest-earning savings bond or other Treasury security.